Monoposto is an affordable way to race, says driver

Robert Constantin and Isabella VeronaSilverstone, Northamptonshire
News imageRobert Constantin/ BBC A man in a black polo shirt kneels beside a bright yellow single-seat race car in a paddock area. The car has a small British flag and text reading “British Racing & Sports Car Club.” Behind them are transport trucks, parked cars and equipment.Robert Constantin/ BBC
Julian Hoskins said the Monoposto Racing Club is a friendly environment

A racing car driver said taking part in the Monoposto Championship was the most affordable way to enter the sport.

Julian Hoskins, from Wolverton, Buckinghamshire, is a Monoposto driver and has raced at Silverstone, Northamptonshire, as part of the championship.

The contest is organised by the Monoposto Racing Club, which is the biggest amateur single-seater racing club in the UK.

Hoskins, who is a member of the club, said: "You can buy a car that's pretty much ready to go for certainly under £10,000. It's very, very affordable, the entries aren't stupidly expensive."

When speaking to Robert Constantin and Charlotte Vowden on The Motorsport Show on BBC Radio Northampton, Hoskins described himself as a "serious hobbier" when it came to racing.

He said the camaraderie was one of the most important aspects of the club, adding: "If anybody has a problem, they don't think twice about helping anybody out. It's a good social scene."

"It's all about the people's experience," he added.

News imageRobert Constantin/ BBC Several open-wheel race cars drive around a wide, paved racetrack during a race. In the background, there is a large grandstand with rows of blue seats and a few track staff in high-visibility clothing near the fence.Robert Constantin/ BBC
The Monoposto Championship took place in Silverstone as part of the Equipe Classic Racing weekend

Monoposto is Italian for "single-seater" and refers to open-wheel race cars.

The club said it aimed to host an inclusive and affordable racing environment for its members and that the championship was for cars that are at least four years old.

The engine size determined the class a car would be assigned to and the contest often included a variety of single-seater vehicles, ranging from older, classic cars to modern F3 cars, the club added.

News imageRobert Constantin/ BBC A man stands indoors in the Silverstone Museum lobby next to an old Force India racing car painted white, green, and orange with “Sahara” branding.Robert Constantin/ BBC
The Monoposto Racing Club said it has provided cost-effective competitive racing since 1958

Eddie Guest, the chairman of the Monoposto Racing Club and a Monoposto driver said: "There's a fair chance that if you have a race car, it'll fit somewhere in our classes."

He added that Monoposto was regarded as the most financially accessible form of racing, considering "no racing is cheap".

He acknowledged that turning up with a car was "fairly daunting", but insisted that the "great camaraderie" means there was always someone to help fellow drivers get started.

"If your car breaks, there's a fair chance someone will come and help you fix it.

"The racing is hard but I think it's very fair," Guest added.

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